December 11, 2006

There should be a word for it. You fall for a reality show that's been around for a while. And there are many old seasons available on DVD. So you keep watching the current season, but you start tapping into old seasons on DVD. You can watch the show every night and every week. The supply is amazing. Oh, my friends: that's me and "Survivor." I don't really watch that much TV. Really, it's only an hour a night. But, I confess, it is "Survivor."

Isn't that a great way to watch a series? You don't have to wait a week or more for the next installment. I've watched all the HBO series' this way because we don't subscribe to HBO but really enjoy the fare.

Me, too. Funny how they draw you in, and how quickly, too. I'm sworn not to get involved with The Apprentice again - nothing but a bunch of resume-padding yahoos each trying to outdo the others (Oh, I'm am SO there!). But, besides Survivor, I got hooked on American Idol, Hell's Kitchen, Dancing With the Stars, The Bachelor, Top Chef, and The Amazing Race.

I have enjoyed the show and I have limited TV watching time (TiVo helps). I have watched it enough to be efficient, because I know what to look for and what to ignore. So I can get what I need in about 25 minutes.

I'm a big Survivor fan, probably because I played Diplomacy and other political games in college. They all involve making alliances, lying and backstabbing. The family also enjoys The Amazing Race. In fact, my daughter threatens to sign us up to play about once a month.

I've watched some of Hell's Kitchen because I am a fan of Gordon Ramsay's cooking - I ate at one of his places in London. His passion to be the best is refreshing.

Most of the rest of the reality shows leave me cold, esp. American Idol, which I have never watched.